Supports metabolism and brain function
Camellia sinensis is the tea plant behind green, black, oolong, and white teas. Its extracts supply antioxidants and bioactive compounds that support brain performance, metabolic function, and healthy liver activity.
About Tea Plant
Your Perfect Cup
When you hear “tea,” you’re thinking of Camellia sinensis. This single plant gives us a surprising range of tea types thanks to different harvesting and processing methods. Its most valuable components include catechins like EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a polyphenol celebrated in wellness circles for its antioxidant properties.
Focus and Calm
Supplements often use Camellia sinensis extracts to deliver these compounds in concentrated forms. The focus? Supporting cognitive alertness and calm – thanks largely to the pairing of gentle caffeine with L-theanine. This combo is famous for providing clear-headed energy without the jittery edge that coffee sometimes causes.
Metabolism and Energy
Beyond your brain, Camellia sinensis influences how your body manages energy and processes fats. Research points to green tea catechins’ role in helping the body break down fat more efficiently and maintain metabolic balance. In everyday terms, it can be part of a broader approach to weight management – though it won’t act as a quick fix on its own.
Liver Support
Your liver also gets attention here. Certain compounds in Camellia sinensis support normal detox pathways, making it popular in products aiming to maintain liver health. You’ll find it in formulas that focus on metabolism, antioxidant defense, or both.
Choosing the Right Extract
People often gravitate toward standardized extracts – especially those specifying EGCG or overall polyphenol content. There’s also demand for decaffeinated versions if you prefer benefits without stimulation or want to avoid caffeine later in the day.
Tradition Meets Modern
Camellia sinensis has real staying power in wellness culture. From centuries-old rituals to today’s supplement capsules, it bridges tradition with current-day goals like supporting mental sharpness and day-to-day resilience.
Related Products
Formulated With
Learn about other ingredients that Tea Plant is used alongside throughout the LVLUP range.
Detailed Information
Phytochemical Diversity
Camellia sinensis contains a diverse array of phytochemicals including catechins (EGCG, EGC, ECG), flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol), tannins (theaflavins in black tea), alkaloids (caffeine, theophylline), saponins, and amino acids such as L-theanine. The molecular activity of these constituents underpins their biological effects; notably, EGCG modulates AMPK signaling pathways implicated in lipid oxidation and thermogenesis while supporting hepatic function through modulation of phase I/II detoxification enzymes.
Neurophysiological Impact
L-theanine readily crosses the blood-brain barrier via leucine-preferring transporters; it acts as a glutamate analog at AMPA/NMDA receptors leading to increased alpha-wave activity – a neurophysiological marker associated with relaxed alertness. Catechins exert antioxidative effects by quenching reactive oxygen species (ROS) through direct electron donation and by upregulating endogenous enzymatic defenses such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The bioavailability of catechins may be impacted by conjugation reactions (glucuronidation/sulfation) within enterocytes and hepatocytes; complex matrices may affect absorption kinetics.
Clinical Insights
Clinical studies have explored Camellia sinensis extract dosing from 100 mg to over 800 mg daily depending on intended effect – ranging from acute cognitive performance enhancement via neurostimulation to chronic modulation of lipid profiles through hepatic signaling cascades. Caffeine content varies from ~30–50 mg per serving depending on extraction method; decaffeination reduces this without materially impacting polyphenol content if conducted via aqueous or supercritical CO2 extraction protocols.
Conclusion
In summary, Camellia sinensis serves multifaceted roles across neurological stabilization (via L-theanine/caffeine synergy), metabolic augmentation (AMPK activation), hepatic biotransformation support (phase I/II enzyme induction), and cellular antioxidative buffering – making it a cornerstone phytochemical source for evidence-based nutraceutical formulations targeting systemic resilience and homeostasis support.
